Roll shifting means for resaw devices



Dec. 1, 1953 D. M. DANIEL 2,661,033

ROLL SHIFTING MEANS FOR RESAW DEVICES Filed March 5, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheetl INVENTOR DAV/D .D IE1.

A T TQRIVE Y D. M. DANIEL ROLL SHIFTING MEANS FOR RESAW DEVICES Dec. 1,1953 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 5, 1952 INVENTOR.

0A W0 M. DAN/EL BY) ATTORNEY Dec. 1, 1953 D. M. DANIEL ROLL SHIFTINGMEANS FOR RESAW DEVICES '7 Sheets-She v 5 Filed March 5, 1952 vINVENTOR.0A v/o M. DAN/4 M ATTORNEY Dec. 1, 1953 D. M. DANIEL ROLL SHIFTING MEANSFOR RESAW DEVICES 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 5, 1952 l IN V EN TOR.

04 W0 M. DAN/EL 52% a A T TOR/YE) Dec. 1, 1953 D. M. DANIEL 2,561,033

ROLL SHIFTING MEANS FOR RESAW DEVICES Filed March 5, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet6 74 7/ Fig. 6.

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DAVID M. DAN/EL ATTORNEY Dec. 1, 1953 D. M. DANIEL 2,661,033

ROLL SHIFTING MEANS FOR RESAW DEVICES Filed March 5, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet'7 INVENTOR.

79 DA wo M. DAN/EL ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 1, i953 ROLL SHI FTING MEANSFOR RESAW DEVICES David M. Daniel, Berkeley, Calif., assignor to UnitedEngineering Company, San Francisco,

Calif., a partnership Application March 5, 1952, Serial No. 274,940

This invention relates to improvements in power saws, and particularlyto improvements in feed and guide mechanisms for power saws of the typeused for re-sawing; i. e., for sawing into sized boards the largesections which were cut from the log when it was first sawn at thelumber mill.

The problems solved by the present invention have to do with machinesused in re-sawing these large timbers. One type of re-sawing is known ascenter sawing, where the saw blade cuts a straight path down the centerof the timber, equally distant from its two edges. In this type ofre-sawing the feed rolls on both sides of the timber must move an equaldistance in opposite directions as the thickness of the timber varies.The other type of re-sawing is known as slab sawing, where a series ofslabs of uniform width are cut off, one at a time and from only one sideof the timber, until only a thin slab remains. In slab-sawing the insidefeedroll is secured so it does not yield, because each slab cut off isto be of uniform thickness. The outer feed roll is mounted so it willyield as it passes over the irregularities that may be present on theother edge of the timber. A machine must be able to do both types ofre-sawing and in both the cut made must be accurate.

One problem in earlier machines has arisen because in re-sawing the milloperator must alternate many times a day between slab sawing and centersawing. Heretofore the changeover from one to the other has been arelatively slow and cumbersome operation. The present invention hassolved this problem by a construction which is very simple and quickto-operate and which is fool-proof in operation. Time heretofore lost inthe changeover is practically eliminated. In a busy mill every momentthat the saw is idle is very costly in labor and in lost production.

The combination of the present invention also has solved the problem ofaccuracy with speed in the changeover from center sawing to slab sawingor vice versa. It does this by the novel type of linkage between themembers to control positioning of the feed rolls, wherein by simplychanging the position of one pin, the two feed rolls may be linked tomove in concert (for center sawing) or the inside rolls may be locked tothe saw table while only the outside rolls move with the variation inthickness of the timber (for slab sawing).

Another problem which this invention solves relates to the troubleexperienced in'the past with binding between the two collars on the twoset- 11 Claims. (01. 143-4 ting shafts with the roller on the yokes onthe ends of the control link between the shafts. The present inventionhas solved this problem by providing a novel type of collar-and-rollerconnection.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description of a preferred embodiment thereof. This embodimentis described in detail in order to comply with the provisions of UnitedStates Revised Statutes, section 4888, but it is not intended to limitthe in- -vention to any of the detailed forms of structure "described.The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a reproduction of a photograph of a re-saw machinewith a feedmechanism embodying the principles of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of a portion of the re-saw machine ofFig. 1, showing the feed roll adjustment mechanism with the quickchangeover structure. For purposes of clarity the outside feed roll andits housing have been shown in phantom (dot-dash line), and a portion ofits base has been cut away to show the attachment of the base tothe'threaded shaft by which the outside feed-roll housing may be movedback and forth. Other parts, such as the base 36, which would detractfrom the clearness of the showing .of the changeover structure have beenomitted, .or have been shown broken away with only the .outline dottedin.

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the table and feed roll portion of thedevice looking at it from the left side of Fig. 1.. 3 Fig. v4 is a likeview looking at the device from the-right side. The view shows part ofthe feed roll housing cut away to expose the drive mechanism toone feedroll.

Fig. 5-is a fragmentary view in plan and partly in section takengenerally along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, and showing the linkage of thefeed-rollposition-adjustment shafts to the control levers looked as theywould be when the saw is set for slab sawing, but before a board isinserted to be cut.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the parts in the positionsassumed when preparing to or when making a slab cut from a timber. Theinside feed roll has remained locked in position on the bed; while theoutside feed roll (a) has been moved outwardly by the foot control inthe first instance when the'timber is fed to the blade or (b) has beenheld outwardly by contact with the timber as it is fed past the sawblade.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Figs. 5 and 6 showing the device asconnected for use in center sawing. The locking pin having been moved toa position where it looks both the feed roll shifting mechanismstogether for synchronous movement toward or away from the saw blade.

Fig. 8 (sheet 5) is a view in section taken along the line 88 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a view in side elevation looking at Fig. 5 from the left handside, in the direction indicated by the arrow 9.

Fig. 10 is a view in section taken along the line ||l||l in Fig. 5.

Fig. 11 (sheet '7) is a view in perspective of the control lever that islinked with the outer feed roll, and to the foot control pedal.

Fig. 12 is a view in perspective of the lever that is linked with theinner feed roll. This lever may either be locked to the main frame ofthe saw so that its feed roller housing will remain stationary, or itmay be locked to the control lever of Fig. 11, so that the twofeed-roll-mech-anisms will move toward or awayfrom the saw bladetogether.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged view in section taken along the line |3--i3 inFig. 5, showing the novel connection that prevents binding fromoccurring between the collars on the adjusting shafts and the pins onthe yokes on the control levers.

Although the invention may be used in connection with many types ofsaws, it will be better understood by describing its use in one specifictype of saw, and for this purpose a large power resaw has been selected.The photograph of the machine, reproduced as Fig. 1, shows such a resaw243 having a band-type blade 2| which runs around the upper half of anupper idler wheel 22 and around the lower half of a lower driven wheel23 (Fig. 3). Both the upper and lower wheels 22, 23 may be encased inshields 24 and supported on a main frame 25 which also supports the sawtable and feed mechanism frame 25.

The timber feed and guide mechanism includes two pairs of driven feedrolls. The rolls 3!], 3| are mounted in a housing 32 and the rolls 33,34 are mounted in the housing 35. The housings 32 and 35 are eachslidably mounted on the saw table plate 3'5.

All the feed rolls 3!}, 3|, 33, 34 are driven, and

for this purpose each feed roll mechanism 32 and 35 preferably has itsown motor 31, 38 (Fig. 3). The broken away portion of Fig. 4-. shows howthe motor 31 is used to drive the pair of feed rolls 3| 3| that are inthe housing 32. The motor 39 rotates a deep-grooved sheave 40. One ormore belts 4| transmit power from the sheave 413 to a second sheave 42,which is mounted on a shaft 43. A spur gear 44, also mounted on theshaft 43', then drives to gears 45, which are keyed each to its adjacentfeed roll which turns free on the shaft 46.

The feed roll mechanisms 32, 35 are made slidable horizontally along thebase of the saw table 25 by providing them with flanged bases 41, 48which engage the flanged bed 36 formed along the top of the saw table26. oppositely threaded shafts 5|, 52 engage interiorly threaded sleeves53, 54, secured to the bases 41, 48, respectively, so that rotation ofthe shafts 5|, 52 will cause the feed mechanisms 32, 35 to move inwardlyor outwardly along the bed 36 with respect to the saw blade 2| and eachother. The shafts 5|, 52 may be rotated separately by placing a handcrank. 55 (Fig. 9) on their respective splined outer ends 55, 51. Spurgears 58, 59 are also splined respectively to shafts 5|, 52 for relativesliding movement so that any axial movement of the shafts will not betransmitted to the gears. A transmission spur gear as is positioned tomesh with the gears 53, 59 so that by turning the crank 55 with thegears in mesh,'the roll feed mechanisms will move toward or away fromeach other in concert. To disengage the gear 55, it can be moved axiallyoutwardly on its stub shaft 8|. (Fig. 6). Then the operator can placethe crank 55 on the screw shafts 5| and 52 separately to accomplish anindependent positioning of each feed. roll housing 32, 35 on the bedplate 36.

One of the novel features of construction of the invention has to dowith the means whereby the shafts 5| and 52 can be locked to moveaxially in synchronism or the shaft 5i can be locked against movementwhile the shaft 52 is left free to move axially under the influence ofthe timber being sawed. This means might be described as multiple orcomplementary levers.

One of these levers 55 is shown in perspective in Fig. 11 and in itsposition in the machine in Fig. 2. The lever 65 on one side of itsbearing 55 has provision through a yoke for connection to the shaft 52,as well as provision near the yoke for a yieldable spring connection tothe base 25; and on the other side of its bearing it has provision forlooking it to its complementary lever 61 and to the foot lever means 58for spreading'the feed rolls apart when a timber is to be fed into thesaw.

When in place the lever 65 is journaled at 66 for swinging movementaround a vertical pin 69, which pin is supported in the bed plate 35 andits base 25 (see Figs. 2, 5, and 8). On the yoke side of the lever 55 acollar 18 is provided through which slides a shaft 1| of lesser iameter(see Figs. 2 and 5). This shaft is secured at l2 to a boss 13 on theside of the bed plate 35. A spring M fits around the shaft at its otherend between the nut 15 and the collar 15). When the lever 55 swingscounter-clockwise in Figs. 5-7, the collar Hi compresses the spring 74against the nut 15. As shown in Figs. 3, 11 and 13, the lever 65 has anextension to form a yoke 35 in which is supported a pair ofanti-friction rollers l? on studs 18 held there by suitable nuts i9.

Another feature of novelty is the provision of support for the pair ofcollars 8|! which engage the anti-friction rollers ll. This supportincludes the small collar 8| placedon the shafts 5i and 52 between thecollars 8!]. It functions as a spacer between the collars. It is a fewthousandths of an inch longer axially than the diameter of theanti-friction rollers 11, so that when the shafts 5| and 52 are turnedin making adjustments, it will be impossible for the collars to getclose enough together to bind on the rollers H. The collars arepositioned on the threaded portion 82 of the shafts 5|, 52 by the nuts83.

The complementary lever 5! (see Fig. 12) has a bearing 85 to fit on thepin 63 above the bearing 65 in the lever 55 so the two levers swing on acommon center. The lever 51 has a yoke 88 with anti-friction rollers lllocated on the arm the same distance from the pivot es as those in theyoke 15 of the member 55. These are engaged in the space between thecollars 35 mounted on the shaft 5| in like manner to those mounted onthe shaft 52.

The outer end of the lever 6'! has provision for :two holes 81 and 88that play an important part of the lever 61 while thehole 38 is formedwith a depending face or notch 90 in which the complementary end 9| ofthelever 65 can nest and thereby bring the holes 88 and 52 into quickalignment to receive the locking pin 95. When this pin is in place thecomplementary! levers 55 and 61 are as one lever (see Fig. '7). Whenthis pin 95 is out of the aligned holes 88 and 32, the levers 65 and 61move independently. The operator removes the pin 95 when he desires todo slab sawing and this requires that the inner feed rollers 35, 3| bepositively locked on the bed plate 35. This is accomplished by means ofthe bracket 96 on the machine frame 26 having a horizontal portion 9!with a recess 38 (see Fig. 2) into which the lateral extension 89 on thelever 67 nests so its hole 3'! aligns with the hole 99 in the bracket96. Then the operator places the pin 95 in the holes 31, 99 locking theshaft 5! and the connected feed roll mechanism 32 to the frame 26 (seeFig. 6).

Thus, by means of a single lock pin 55, the lever 61 may be securedeither to the frame 25, as in Figs. 5 and 6, free to move independentlyof the lever 51, or it may be freed from the frame 26 and locked formovement as one with the lever 65, as shown in Fig. '7. When the lever61 is locked to the frame 26 (see Figs. 5 and 6), it holds the innerfeed roll mechanism 32 stationary on the saw bed 35, whereas the outerfeed roll mechanism 35 is free to slide on the saw bed 35 so the feedrolls under the pressure of the spring 14 exert a yielding pressureagainst a timber passing through the saw. This is the position that isused when the re-saw is being used for slab sawing. When the lever parts55 and 51 are locked together as in Fig. '7, the re-saw is useful forcenter sawing; for this hook-up the inner feed roll mechanism 32 andouter feed roll mechanism 35 will advance towardor retract from the sawblade identical distances which means that the saw blade will pass downthe center of the timber, assuming that at the outset the feedmechanisms were set an equal distance from the saw blade.

When the levers 65 and 6'! are locked together, n

the pressure of the spring 'M will cause the end of the lever 6'! tonest in the recess 38. This means that the opposite set of feed rollsare too close to allow a timber ready to be sawn to enter or to reachthe saw blade. rolls apart when ready to introduce the timber .to thesaw, a pedal arrangement 53 may be used as this leaves the operator'shands free for other tasks. I

The one shown here includes the pedal I08 (see Figs. 1, 2, and 4) whichis secured on a lever ||i| pivotally mounted at I02 on the main sawframe 25. A clevis I03 is pivoted at :04 to the lever 5| and itsopposite end is pivoted at I05 to a yoke member I06 whose upper end ispivoted at IIl'I to a bell crank I08, which in turn is journaled at I09to the main table frame 25. A rod I I6, connected by a clevis I II tothe hole in the laterally offset end of the lever 55 extends through theyoke I55 and through a slotIIZ in the lower arm of the bell crank I38. Anut ||3 secured to the rod II 3 abuts the rear face of the slot 2 in thelower arm of the bell crank I08. When the operator steps on the pedal100, the rod I I0 moves to the right (in Figs. 2and 4),

To move the feed and this moves the lever 65. If the levers 65 and 31are locked together bythe pin 95, the efi'ect will be to move both feedroll mechanisms 32, 35 apart; that is, back from the saw blade 2|. Ifthe lever 65 is free and the lever 61 is locked to the frame bracket 96,the inside feed roll mechanism 32 will remain in fixed position on thesaw table 35, whereas the outer feed roll mechanism 35 will moveoutwardly on the saw table 35 away from the saw blade 2|. When pressureon the foot control pedal I00 is released, the spring I4 restores thelever 55 to its normal position, and also causes the rod III) to followthe bell crank I08 back to its normal position.

Operation Suppose that the operator has a timber of any length whichmeasures 12 inches square in cross section and it is desired to cut itinto boards or slabs one inch thick. The first thing he-will do will beto place the pin in the hole 81 to lock the lever 61 to the frame 25. Hewill then disengage the gear 59 and by means of the crank 55 on shaft 5|will move the gear set of feed rolls 35, 3| up to a position one inchaway from the saw blade 2|. He will place the crank 55 on the shaft 52and move the outer set of feed rolls 33, 34 outaway from the saw blade2| to a position less than eleven inches from the blade 2|. There isabout an inch and a half of motion possible in the tension spring I4 toapply pressure on the outside edge of the timber so it is preferablethat the feed rolls 33, 34 be set about ten to ten and a half inchesfrom the saw blade for the first cut. Assuming that the saw blade ismoving, the operator will set the feed rolls 35, 3|, 33 and 34 inoperation at the speed it is desired for the timber to travel past thesaw blade. The operator will place one foot on the pedal I00 which willmove the feed roll housing 35 back more than eleven inches from the sawblade and that will provide an opening between the feed rolls 30, 3| and33, 3d of slightly over 12 inches, the width of the timber.

As soon as the timber is between the first feed rollers 30, 33 he willrelease the pedal I01! and the spring 14 will move the roller 33 againstthe side of the timber to bring it against the roller 30. This positionsthe timber before it has engaged the saw blade. The feed rolls force thetimber through the saw and off the back side is cut the first slab oneinch thick. While the timber is being returned for its next trip throughthe saw, the operator rotates the shaft 52 by the crank 55 to move thefeed rolls 33, 34 about an inch closer to the saw blade 2|. This isrepeated for each slab that is cut from the timber. Now assume that thenext use for the saw is a job of center sawing, that is to saw timberdown the middle. The operator moves the looking pin 95 into the holes 88and 92 to lock the levers 65 and 61 together. Then the operator turnsthe shafts 5| and. 52 separately by the crank 55 until he has the feedrolls 30, 3| and 33, 34 equally distant from the saw blade 2|. Then heengages the gear 63 between the gears 58 and 59. As the first timber isplaced with its end on the feed table 35 he gauges its width and turnsthe crank 55 which may be on either shaft 5| or 52. Turning the crankwill rotate both shafts and move the feed roll housings 32 and 35 inconcert, toward or away from the saw blade 2|. Having in mind thatthespring '14 will allow about one and a half inches of movement to theshafts 5| and 52, and hence to the feed rolls, he will be able to take atimber which varies along its length up to 3 inches in width. If itvaries more than this, he may have to move the crank some as the cutprogresses. Assuming the maximum variation in thickness is only twoinches, he will set the feed rolls so they are spaced apart about a halfinch closer than the minimum width of the timber. Then he puts his footon the pedal N30 to spread the feed rolls apart while the timber movesup between the rollers at and 33. When he releases the pedal, the springM soon centers the timber on the saw blade and the cut proceeds. As thetimber moves along and its width varies, the rollers 30, 3| move backthe same distance the rollers 33, 34 move out, and Vice versa, so thatthe saw blade will cut down the middle of the timber.

Assuming the next timber is to be slab sawed, then the operator merelyshifts the pin 95 to lock the lever 6'; to the bed plate 26 and heproceeds as set out before.

What is claimed is:

l. A selective control mechanism for the slidable guide members mountedon the frame of a resaw device, comprising a first lever pivoted betweenits ends and between said guide members to said frame and. having meansfor connecting at all times one of its arms to one only of said slidableguide members for movement therewith; a second lever pivoted to saidframe between its ends and between said guide members, and having meansfor connecting at all times its arm which is opposite to the connectedarm of said first lever to the other of said slidable guide members formovement therewith; releasable means for physically and directlyconnecting said levers to work in unison; and releasable means forphysically and directly securing one of said levers irn-rnovably to saidframe while the other of said levers remains free to rotate about itspoint of connection to said frame.

2. The device of claim 1 in which said levers are mounted on a commonpivot point.

3. The device of claim 1 in which said means for connecting said leversto their respective slidable guide members each includes a threaded rodengageable in a threaded portion of its respective guide member.

4. The device of claim 1 in which there is a resilient pressure meansfor urging said levers against said securing means on said frame.

5. A resaw device, adapted for slab-sawing and center-sawing, having incombination a frame; a saw table mounted thereon; a saw means thereinfor moving a saw blade over said table; a feed and guide roll means oneach side of said saw blade, each being slidably mounted on said tablefor movement toward and away from said saw blade; a plural levermechanism for controlling the movement of said feed and guide roll meansindependently or in concert; including a first lever pivoted between itsends to said frame, and. having a yoke near one end, a threaded rodsecured to said yoke and engaged in a female threaded portion securingit to one of said feed and guide roll means, a resilient pressureapplying means normally urging said lever inwardly whereby its connectedroll means is urged toward said saw blade; a second lever mounted toswing co-axially with said first lever, and having a yoke on theopposite side of the pivot point to the yoke on said first lever, athreaded rod secured to said yoke and engaged in a female threadedportion securing it to the other of said feed and guide roll means;means for securing said levers for movement as one; and means forsecuring said second lever to said frame to anchor it against movementwhile said first lever is left free to move.

6. The device of claim 5 in which there is an additional lever securedto said first lever so the operator can move the same against theresilient pressure applying means in order to spread apart said feedrolls to facilitate introduction of a timber to said saw blade.

'7. The device of claim 5 in which said last two named means areeffected by placing the same pin in one or the other of closely adjacentaligned sets of holes.

8. The device of claim 5 in which said resilient pressure applyingmeans, at the end of making a cut, returns the first and second leversagainst stops with the holes, required for effecting the securingrecited in the last two means, in alignment to receive a locking pin inone or the other set of holes.

9. In a control mechanism for the feed and guide rolls of a re-sawingmachine, having a saw table, a saw blade movable therein, feed and guideroll means movable toward and away from said saw blade; the combinationof a lever mechanism including a pair of levers, one lever beingconnected to one of said feed and guide rolls and the other lever beingconnected to the other thereof so any movement of either of said leverswill effect a like movement of its connected feed and guide roll towardor away from said saw blade, said levers each having a first openingtherethrough, said openings being alignable with each other, one saidlever also having a second opening therethrough alignable with anopening extending through a portion of said frame; rod means foroperatively connecting said levers for simultaneous movement by passingthrough both said alignable first openings in said levers, whichmovement when occurring will cause said feed and guide roll devices tomove in opposite directions, said rod means, when said levers aredisconnected, serving to extend through said frame opening and saidsecond opening for securing one of said levers against movement whilethe other lever remains unsecured which will thereby anchor one of saidfeed and guide rolls against movement while the other will be free tomove toward or away from said saw blade; and means for applyingresilient pressure tending to urge said feed and guide roll means towardsaid saw blade.

10. In a feed roll and guide mechanism for saws the combination of a sawtable; a saw blade movable therethrough; independently movable feed rolland guide roll mechanisms mounted adjacent said table and on oppositesides of said saw blade; means for controlling the position of each ofsaid mechanisms on said saw table in relation to said saw blade; saidmeans including a pair of levers, each having a common pivot point andeach being operatively connected to move one of said mechanisms towardand away from said saw blade, said levers each having first openingsthrough them alignable with each other whereby rod means may be insertedtherethrough for selectively securing said levers together to move asone and one of said levers having a second opening therethroughalignable with an opening in a portion of the frame whereby said rodmeans may be inserted therethrough for se curing one of said levers in anon-movable position, while leaving the other lever free for movement,whereby in the latter case one only of said mechanisms will yield as apiece of wood is being cut, but in the former case with said leverssecured together both of said mechanisms will advance toward or retreatfrom said saw blade in concert as a piece of wood is being cut.

11. The device of claim 7 in which said pin is a tapered pin.

DAVID M. DANIEL.

References Cited in the file of this patent I UNITED STATES PATENTSNumber Number Number Name Date McDonough Sept. 12, 1899 Lewis Nov. 30,1920 Bridges June 4, 1929 Jenkins Jan. 12, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS CountryDate Norway Oct. 26, 1903 Norway May 27, 1947 Switzerland June 1, 1939

